Nepal’s future at the UN Summit of the Future

 While the world is better off today in many development indicators than when the UN was established after World War II. Even so, poverty, inequality, illiteracy, global epidemics, gender inequality and conflicts have continued.

The Security Council established over 75 years ago to help solve crises and promote peace, is unable to function effectively in its current form. Globally, rising mistrust is feeding ongoing conflicts in West Asia, Sudan, Ukraine and elsewhere. There are violations to the UN charter and increasing threats to multilateralism. 

Consequences of climate breakdown and the need to adopt concrete measures to reduce global temperatures is becoming more critical by the day. Small island states are in danger of being submerged by the sea, glacial meltdown, floods and droughts threaten lives and livelihoods.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is holding The Summit of the Future 2024 in New York on 22-23 September, providing an opportunity for world leaders to assess these issues so collective solutions can be found. 

The Summit will deliberate on global concerns, forge a new international consensus to ‘deliver a better present and safeguard the future’ helping to mend eroded trusts and tackle emerging threats and opportunities.

The summit will also examine progress towards meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce poverty, hunger, illiteracy, climate change, human rights, and justice, among others. 

The Summit will also discuss the decline in development finance, international peace and security, science, technology, innovation and digital cooperation. Because it is focused on the future, the role of youth will be discussed by young delegates themselves. 

Given the stronger urge to protect national and bilateral interests as well budgets being diverted elsewhere, there are signs of aid fatigue and less enthusiasm for UN engagement which would require the UN to think and act differently. 

The UN’s multilateral role in promoting global peace and effectiveness in responding to other challenges facing the world needs the organisation to be more agile, efficient, effective and transparent. It must focus on results and impact on the ground.

Nepal has made remarkable progress in improving social indicators. Despite this, poverty, hunger, and illiteracy remain high. Injustice, rampant corruption and violations of human rights are of rising concern.

Adding to these structural problems are the impacts of climate breakdown with glacial retreat, shrinking water sources, and the danger of climate-induced disasters. These threaten not just Nepal, but countries downstream from the Himalaya.

Changes in rainfall patterns have increased floods, delayed and reduced rainfall has affected food security. Despite progress in education and health in expanded partnership with the private sector, there are concerns about quality. 

Overstretched government medical facilities and shortages of medicine and qualified doctors are impacting healthcare. The public is frustrated by slow progress in infrastructure. Pollution level has risen to lethal levels, increasing respiratory diseases. 

In the absence of local employment opportunities, the youth are migrating overseas in large numbers, and the remittance they send home supports their households and the national economy. 

Lack of attention to enhance productivity, has led to a stagnant agricultural sector, turning Nepal into a net importer of rice and other food items.

Frequent changes in government have caused unstable policies and programs, seriously affecting progress in sustainable development. The aspirations of the people to transit towards democracy and justice from the atrocities of ten years of conflict has been a slow and protracted process.

Nepal is at risk of not graduating from LDC status by 2025 and meeting SDG targets by 2030 because of governance failure, lack of service delivery and corruption. 

Prime Minister K P Oli left for New York on Friday to address the Summit of the Future 2024. This is a proud moment for Nepal to recommit to the UN and its reform agenda. Nepal should voice its desire to make the UN Security Council more effective, share its development experiences, and thank global partners and the UN for its cooperation.

PM Oli should also raise his voice against global instability and polarisation by affirming Nepal’s support to the UN charter and its commitment to peace, also by strengthening the Blue Helmet peacekeeping forces.

Nepal needs to agree to revamping the Security Council with more inclusiveness representation from Africa, and from the most populous country, India, as well as stronger economies such as Japan and Germany.

Pledging its commitment, Nepal should reiterate its concern with the situation in Ukraine and Palestine, and the rising humanitarian crises in a number of African countries such as Sudan.

Nepal also needs to continue pledging its dedication to fulfilling the SDGs with concrete plans to achieve the unmet Goals. The key issue will be Nepal’s commitment and ownership of a transformative agenda with measures to deliver the promises, including plugging leakage due to corruption.

Nepal must also pledge to effectively implement the Truth and Reconciliation Bill (TRC), with a strong and capable leadership team which will listen to the victims’ voices.

With the climate crisis affecting High Asia, Nepal needs to continue to push the mountain agenda and address the transboundary impact it will have on downstream populations. 

With remittances being equivalent to nearly 25% of Nepal’s GDP, migration is a major socio-economic issue for Nepal. It is important to thank countries hosting Nepalis and encourage them to ensure fairer treatment including minimum wage and support to our workers.  

P M Oli’s deliberation at the Summit of the Future must not end in New York like most other Nepal’s engagements in the past -- there must be strong efforts to bring the country’s commitments into action for the benefit of its citizens and global governance, with follow up and timely delivery of the promises made at the summit.

Bishow Parajuli was a former UN Resident Coordinator as well as  UNDP/WFP Representative in many countries.